Rivers Angels win first game, confirms exit from CAF Women’s Champions League

For the Nigerian league champions, Rivers Angels, it was a bittersweet victory for the team as the 4-0 thrashing of Vihiga Queens of Kenya in the last Group B tie on Friday could not prevent the club from crashing out of the on-going CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt.

Sportsrevelation had correctly reported last Tuesday that Rivers Angels have crashed out of the competition after the club lost its second successive Group B match to Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies of South Africa by a lone goal even with a match to spare.

The Nigerian representatives had also suffered a 3-0 humiliation in the hands of the Moroccan Champions, ASFAR Ladies on the opening day of the competition and a second defeat three days later by Mamelodi Sundowns made qualification for the semi final a day dream.

However, to earn a progression, the WAFU-B runners-up needed to win by at least four goals against Vihiga, while hoping South African giants Sundowns beat ASFAR in the final Group match B final match played simultaneously.

But the Port Harcourt-based club which dominated the first half was unable to utilize any of their  chances, registering more than ten shots and never found a breakthrough until the second stanza.

The goals later came in fast and thick towards the end of the encounter as Vihiga’s Vivian Makokha handled the ball inside the box to gift Rivers Angels a penalty, which Vivian Ikechukwu calmly converts to scored the Angels’ first goal of the competition in the 67th minute.

Ten minutes later, another penalty was awarded to Rivers Angels as goalkeeper Onyango tripped Damilola Koku. Vivian Ikechukwu stepped forward once again and shines with a brace that doubled the lead for Rivers Angels.

About ten minutes to the regulation  time, Damilola Koku then beats an offside trap to loop over Onyango – who was already off her mark – and finds the back of the net.

Substitute Monday Gift completed the rout with a superb close range strike in the 84th minute Rivers Angels ran away with a 4-0 victory on the day and despite the emphatic win they  were still eliminated from the first edition of the continental showpiece.

For her individual contributions to her  team’s victory, Rivers Angels star

Damilola Koku was named Player of the Match against Vihiga Queens just Rivers Angels finished in the third position in Group B with three points from three games.

Elsewhere, the South Africans  failed to do the Nigerians any favour by beating ASFAR as the match ended in a stalemate at El Salam Stadium. By this result,  Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies and ASFAR ensured both teams joined Hasaacas Ladies and Malabo Kings in the semi finals.

Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies FC finished top of the group with seven points and will face Malabo Kings in the  semi-final while ASFAR FC will play Hasaacas Ladies FC.